The Bardic Circle
With the rituals of the Bardic Circle, the mysteries of Merlin take on a greater degree of magical intensity. The pentagram rituals and the practice of Composition of Place make it possible for you to establish a stronger link to the inner energies that move through the Merlin legend, and the effects on your consciousness and your daily life will be correspondingly more potent. Even so, those effects will be measured precisely by the effort you put into the work before you and the work you have already done in the Ovate Circle.
Plan on spending a full year on the rituals of this level, building on the foundations you set in place during the work of the Ovate Circle and preparing yourself for the still more intensive rituals of the Druid Circle. The temptation to jump ahead is understandable, but it’s also counterproductive. It’s a waste of time trying to put the battlements on your magical tower until you’ve finished building the walls, just as it’s a waste of effort to start building the walls until the foundation is in place. Take the process of self-initiation a step at a time and the results will be enduring.
ALBAN ARTHAN, DECEMBER 21
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a brown altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of earth. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Naf in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of indigo light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name OLWEN and by the holy hawthorn, I call upon the powers of Naf the Shaper, the Tenth Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Alban Arthan, and awaken for me the first station of Merlin’s Wheel. Olwen of the White Track, maiden goddess of the Tenth Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
Beneath the branches of a leafless hawthorn tree sits a young woman dressed in a plain dress of rough brown cloth, tied at the waist with a rope belt. Her legs are folded beneath her, her feet are bare, and her hair is long and brown. She wears no ornaments. In her arms is a baby boy, Merlin the infant, wrapped in a coarse, brown woolen blanket. She looks down lovingly at the child’s face, but the child looks out at you and his bright eyes sparkle with intelligence. In the background, the door of a hermitage opens into the side of a hill. Forest trees surround the scene and a cold wind keens in their bare branches.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
The king asked her, “Who is the father of your child?” And the princess answered, “I know not. All I know is that when I dwelt in my father’s house with my maidens, one night while I slept, there appeared to me one in the form of a handsome young man who spoke to me and kissed me, then vanished so that I could no longer see him. Often thereafter he came to me, sometimes visibly and sometimes not, and at length he lay beside me and made love to me as a man would, and after that I found that I was with child. Now you must decide what this child’s father was, for apart from that, I have never been with a man.”
And the king sent for Magan the wise, his counselor, and when Magan had heard the whole story he said, “In the books of the sages it is written that many a child has been born in this way. For there are a race of spirits who dwell between the earth and the moon who are partly of the nature of men and partly of the nature of angels, and when they wish they can assume mortal form and cohabit with human beings. It is possible that one of these appeared to this woman and begot the child upon her.”
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Naf in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of indigo light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name OLWEN and by the holy hawthorn, I thank the powers of Naf the Shaper, the Tenth Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Alban Arthan, and awakening for me the first station of Merlin’s Wheel. Olwen of the White Track, maiden goddess of the Tenth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of earth.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
CALAN MYRI, FEBRUARY 2
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a violet altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of earth. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Ner in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of violet light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the invocation below. As noted already, the name that you vibrate should be the one of the opposite gender to that of your physical body to establish a polarity between you and the deity—thus men should vibrate the name Sul (pronounced “SEEL”), while women vibrate the name Coel (pronounced “CO-ell”).
In the sacred name (SUL or COEL) and by the holy willow, I call upon the powers of Ner the Mighty, the Ninth Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Calan Myri, and awaken for me the second station of Merlin’s Wheel. Sul of the healing Springs (or) Coel the master of the wild places, goddess (or) god of the Ninth Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
A king dressed in purple robes and wearing a golden crown sits on the edge of an empty pool in a cavern. He has black hair and a short, neatly trimmed black beard. Beside him stands a young brown-haired boy, Merlin the child, barefoot and bareheaded, dressed in a simple sleeveless tunic of unbleached linen. The child is pointing with one hand at the air before them where two mighty dragons, one red and the other white, coil around each other in a double helix, clawing each other as they rise up into the air together. The ground shakes beneath the king and the child, and the roar of flames as the dragons spit fire at each other fills the air.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
Then the boy spoke to King Vortigern, saying, “Your wise men have lied to you, for they do not know what lies beneath this hill. Command your servants to dig and they will find a pool hidden beneath the ground. Let them dig channels and drain away the water and then a marvel will be seen. For beneath the water lie two hollow stones, and under the stones lie two great dragons, and it is they who will not permit your tower to stand.”
So the king commanded his servants to dig, and soon they discovered the pool and marveled at the boy’s wisdom. They dug channels and drained away the water and found the two hollow stones. Then the king sat beside the empty pool and watched, and the two dragons came forth from the hollow stones. One of them was white and the other red, and they leapt upon each other, biting and clawing and breathing fire, so that no struggle so fierce had ever been seen in that land. Then the king turned to the boy and asked him what the combat between the dragons meant. At once Merlin burst into tears and began to prophesy.
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Ner in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of indigo light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name (SUL or COEL) and by the holy willow, I thank the powers of Ner the Mighty, the Ninth Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Calan Myri, and awakening for me the second station of Merlin’s Wheel. Sul of the healing springs (or) Coel the master of the wild places, goddess (or) god of the Ninth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of earth.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
ALBAN EILIR, MARCH 21
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with an orange altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of air. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Byth in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of orange light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name MABON and by the holy hazel, I call upon the powers of Byth the Eternal, the Eighth Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Alban Eilir, and awaken for me the third station of Merlin’s Wheel. Mabon, son of Modron, ever-young god of the Eighth Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
A circle of standing stones, blue-gray in color, rises from a wide plain beneath a blue sky dotted with clouds. In the center of the circle stands a brown-haired lad, Merlin the boy, who wears a cloak and trousers the same color as the stones, a tunic of unbleached linen, and leather shoes. His head is bare, and his eyes are blue and piercing. All around, just outside the circle of stones, stands a great concourse of people, the men in tunics, cloaks, and trousers, the women in cloaks and long dresses, watching him and murmuring in amazement.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
And Merlin said to Aurelius, “If you wish a fitting monument, let the stones of the Giants’ Dance in the uttermost west be brought here and set in a ring. For those stones were brought from distant places and hallowed by secret rites in the most ancient times, and each one has healing powers.” This counsel seemed good to Aurelius, and he sent his brother Uther and a great host of men and Merlin to bring back the stones of the Giants’ Dance.
And when they had driven off the guardians of the stones, Uther and his men tried to draw the stones from the earth to bear them back to Britain, but they could not make a single stone yield to all their efforts. Then Merlin laughed, set out such gear as he needed, and easily drew up the stones and conveyed them to the ships, and they brought the stones back to the plain of Salisbury with great rejoicing. There, by Merlin’s art, the great stones were set up in a mighty ring, and there the people of Britain made festival, and there Aurelius was crowned King of the Britons.
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Byth in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of orange light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name MABON and by the holy hazel, I thank the powers of Byth the Eternal, the Eighth Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Alban Eilir, and awakening for me the third station of Merlin’s Wheel. Mabon, son of Modron, ever-young god of the Eighth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of air.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
CALAN MAI, MAY 1
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a green altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of air. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Byw in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of emerald-green light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name ELEN and by the holy apple tree, I call upon the powers of Byw the Living, the Seventh Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Calan Mai, and awaken for me the fourth station of Merlin’s Wheel. Elen of the roads and the twilight, goddess of the Seventh Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
A narrow beach of sand stretches between a rocky shore and the rolling waves of the gray sea; the rhythmic rushing of the waves on the beach is heard, and the air is tinged with salt spray. On the shore stands a young man, Merlin the youth, wearing a tunic of unbleached linen, trousers of brown cloth, and a green cloak. His hair is brown and long, and blows in the wind. Before him stands an old woman dressed in the greens and browns and grays of earth who holds a newborn child wrapped in a crimson cloak. The woman is giving the child to Merlin. Above the shore, a castle raises its battlements against a sky at sunrise.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
And King Uther said to Merlin, “Give me one night of love with the lady Ygerna, and in return I will give you whatever you will ask.” And Merlin replied to him, “So be it.” And he changed Uther’s appearance to that of Ygerna’s husband the Duke of Cornwall. That night Uther rode to the castle of Tintagel and Ygerna received him lovingly, thinking he was her husband. That night was Arthur the Pendragon conceived, and that same night the Duke of Cornwall died.
When nine months had passed and Ygerna gave birth to an infant boy, Merlin went to Uther and said, “When I brought you to Ygerna you promised me whatever I would ask. I ask now for the child you begot upon her.” And the king commanded the nursemaid to take the infant to Merlin, who waited beside the sea. And he took Arthur to a hidden place where he was fostered with a worthy family and did not know his birth or his heritage.
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Byw in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of emerald-green light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name ELEN and by the holy apple tree, I thank the powers of Byw the Living, the Seventh Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Calan Mai, and awakening for me the fourth station of Merlin’s Wheel. Elen of the roads and the twilight, maiden goddess of the Tenth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of air.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
ALBAN HEFIN, JUNE 21
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a gold altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of fire. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Muner in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of golden light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name ESUS and by the holy oak, I call upon the powers of Muner the Lord, the Sixth Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Alban Hefin, and awaken for me the fifth station of Merlin’s Wheel. Esus, chief of tree-spirits, god of the Sixth Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
The same circle of standing stones, blue-gray in color, stands on the plain, but now the plain is covered with flowers and the midsummer sun stands high in the heavens. In the center of the circle stands a tall figure, Merlin the young man, clad in robes of gold. His hair is brown, bound by a golden circlet, and he wears a short, brown beard. In both his hands he holds a golden crown upraised. Before him kneels a golden-haired youth in a coat of chain mail with a sword belted about his waist. The youth’s head is bare. All around the circle gathers a great crowd of people of every station: great lords and ladies in robes and mantles trimmed with fur, warriors in coats of chain mail, and the common folk of the land in their brightly colored best clothing, all raising a shout of acclamation as Merlin places the crown on Arthur’s head.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
Then Arthur once more lightly drew the sword out of the stone. But the barons said, “Who is this youth that he should reign over us?” And Merlin answered them, “This is Arthur, who is the son of Uther Pendragon. By right of blood, as also by right of drawing the sword from the stone as you have seen this day, he is to be King of the Britons.” This the barons would not allow. But when word went forth that the barons still refused their homage to Arthur, the common people of the country rose up as one and said, “We will have Arthur as our king, and he who would deny him the crown, him we will slay.”
So the barons knelt before Arthur and did him homage, and Merlin anointed him and placed the crown that had been his father’s upon his head. And so did Arthur become King of the Britons, and long held the realm of Logres in peace.
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Muner in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of golden light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name ESUS and by the holy oak, I thank the powers of Muner the Lord, the Sixth Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Alban Hefin, and awakening for me the fifth station of Merlin’s Wheel. Esus, chief of tree-spirits, god of the Sixth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of fire.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
CALAN GWYNGALAF, AUGUST 1
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a red altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of fire. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Modur in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of brilliant red light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name TARANIS and by the holy ash tree, I call upon the powers of Modur the Mover, the Fifth Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Calan Gwyngalaf, and awaken for me the sixth station of Merlin’s Wheel. Taranis of the thunders, mighty god of the Fifth Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
A great oak rises in the midst of dense forest. At the foot of the oak is an outcropping of gray stone, and from a cleft in the stone a spring bubbles up, giving birth to a narrow stream that flows away. Other trees press close all around and sunlight filtered through their leaves dapples the ground; the song of birds is everywhere, and deer, boars, and other wild things move through the forest. Beside the spring, sitting with his back to the oak, is Merlin, the man of middle years, his beard long and his brown hair unkempt. He is wrapped in a cloak the orange color of autumn leaves, and he gazes down into the waters of the spring as though he sees something there that other eyes do not see. Beside him sits a gray wolf, its tongue lolling; Merlin’s hand rests on the wolf’s back.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
Then Merlin said, “Dearer to me than the haunts of humankind is the wood, and there will I go and dwell.” And he left the court of Arthur, and no one saw the manner of his leaving; and he journeyed to the forest of Caledon and to the place where the well of Galabes springs forth within a grove of great trees, and there he made his dwelling. All the wild things of that country knew him and feared him not; the deer gathered to his call, the wild boars watched their piglets play at his feet, and a wolf came from the northern moors to sit beside him and be his companion in the forest.
To him came messengers from the court of Arthur, and lastly his sister Ganieda, asking him to return, but he would not leave the wood, even as summer turned to winter. Finally there came to him Taliesin, the wisest of all the bards of Britain, who did not ask him to return, but conversed with him concerning the secrets of nature.
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Modur in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of brilliant red light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name TARANIS and by the holy ash tree, I thank the powers of Modur the Mover, the Fifth Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Calan Gwyngalaf, and awakening for me the sixth station of Merlin’s Wheel. Taranis of the thunders, mighty god of the Fifth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of air.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
ALBAN ELFED, SEPTEMBER 22
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a blue altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of water. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Ener in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of sky-blue light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name BELINUS and by the holy birch, I call upon the powers of Ener the Namer, the Fourth Sphere of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Alban Elfed, and awaken for me the seventh station of Merlin’s Wheel. Belinus, the Lord of the Year, god of the Fourth Sphere, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
A grassy shore slopes down to the sea. On the shore stand three men, and beside them a fourth lies on the grass. To the left is Taliesin, a youthful man with black hair, dressed in robes of blue, green, and white; he has a harp cradled in one arm. To the right is Bedwyr, a middle-aged man with blond hair going to gray, wearing a battered coat of chain mail, an iron helmet that does not cover his face, and leather hose; he has a sword hanging from a belt around his waist. To one side lies Arthur, wearing armor like Bedwyr’s; his face is pale, his hair and beard golden, and his coat of mail is hacked and stained with blood. In the center is Merlin the old man. He wears a great cloak of crimson red and a long white robe; his arms are upraised; his hair and beard, both long, are gray. In the distance, beneath a blue autumn sky scattered with clouds, a ship with a single square sail draws near.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
Then Taliesin and Merlin went down among the fallen, and there found Arthur lying upon the grass, red with many wounds, and Bedwyr, the last of his warriors, kneeling beside him, all alone save Arthur and the dead. And Taliesin asked, “Does the king still live?” And Bedwyr answered, “He does, and when he goes to his grave so shall I.”
Then Merlin laughed and said, “Not wise the thought, a grave for Arthur! Be of good cheer and lift up your head, and you will behold a wonder.” And Bedwyr looked, and a ship was coming toward the shore beside the field of battle. “That is the ship of Barinthus,” said Merlin then, “who knows well the waters and the stars of heaven, and he shall bear Arthur to the Isle of Avalon, where Morgen the queen of that isle will heal him of his wounds. There shall he abide, king once and king to be, until he comes again.”
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Ener in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of sky-blue light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name BELINUS and by the holy birch, I thank the powers of Ener the Namer, the Fourth Sphere of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Alban Elfed, and awakening for me the seventh station of Merlin’s Wheel. Belinus, the Lord of the Year, great god of the Fourth Sphere, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of water.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.
CALAN TACHWEDD, NOVEMBER 1
Before starting, set up your working space as a temple. The altar is at the center with a black altar cloth. On it are three white candles in candlesticks, a bowl or cauldron of water, and a bowl or cauldron of sand on which to burn incense; you may also, if you wish, put on the altar any seasonal decorations suitable to the place where you live. Place a chair in the west facing the altar. Sit there for a few moments of silence to calm your mind and focus on the ritual work you are about to do, then stand up, go to the altar, and begin.
First, perform the complete opening ritual.
Second, starting at the west of the altar facing east, perform the summoning pentagram ritual of water. Return to the altar.
Third, standing at the west of the altar facing east, trace the summoning Octagram of Iau in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of pure white light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name CERIDWEN and by the holy yew, I call upon the powers of Iau the Yoke, which reflects the three highest Spheres of the Tree of Life, to hallow and bless this ritual of Calan Tachwedd, and awaken for me the last station of Merlin’s Wheel. Ceridwen the Wise, goddess of Iau, I pray that you will bless and guide me in this work of self-initiation.
Fourth, bow or curtsy to the divine presence you have invoked, and take your seat in the west. Then perform the Composition of Place, imagining as clearly as possible the following image as though it was physically present on the other side of the altar.
In a forest grove in autumn, tall oaks rise high above a forest floor covered with brown fallen leaves, and a few leaves still cling to the branches above. In the midst of the grove stands a newly made earthen mound with a low door that faces you, opening into utter darkness. Two tall stones flank the door, carved in spiral patterns. In front of the door stands Merlin the ancient, his hair and beard white, wearing a plain white robe. To his right stands an old woman dressed in black, her hair gray, her face resembling Merlin’s. To his left stands Taliesin in his robes of green, blue, and white. Merlin extends one hand to each of them and they each hold his hand in both of theirs as they say their farewells.
Fifth, read aloud the narrative of the season in a clear, slow voice:
And when Arthur was gone Merlin returned again to the forest of Caledon and to the well of Galabes. To him came his sister Ganieda, who had been wed to one of the kings of that land and was now widowed, and she dwelt with him in the forest.
And Ganieda built for him beside the well of Galabes a chamber in which were seventy windows, so that through them he could see all the stars of heaven. And when it was done Merlin said to her and to Taliesin, “I shall now depart from among you and from all mortal beings, for it is my fate to go alive into the earth, and there remain.” And he bid them farewell and went into the chamber that was prepared for him, and from there passed into the earth, nor has any mortal being seen him since that day.
Sixth, meditate for a time on the energies of the season. Ten to fifteen minutes of meditation is a workable minimum for the Bardic stage of the work.
Seventh, dissolve the Composition of Place.
Eighth, rise from the chair and go to the west of the altar facing east. Standing there, trace the banishing Octagram of Iau in the air above the altar using the first two fingers of your right hand. Imagine your fingers drawing the octagram in a line of pure white light. Then point to the center of the octagram and say the following, vibrating the name written in capital letters:
In the sacred name CERIDWEN and by the holy yew, I thank the powers of Iau the Yoke, which reflects the three highest Spheres of the Tree of Life, for hallowing and blessing this ritual of Calan Tachwedd, and awakening for me the last station of Merlin’s Wheel. Ceridwen the Wise, goddess of the cauldron of Iau, I thank you for your help in this work of self-initiation.
Ninth, perform the banishing pentagram ritual of water.
Tenth, perform the complete closing ritual.